Hi John,
As we continue our observance of Black August - a time to honor the legacy of those who fought for justice and freedom, and to reflect on the ongoing struggles ahead - we focus on a pressing issue embodying our commitment to educational equity in New York State: the challenges faced by the students, families, and communities of the East Ramapo Central School District.
In East Ramapo, students in public schools continue to suffer the negligence and harm of persistent underfunding. Despite recent increases in statewide education funding in New York, East Ramapo’s public schools have struggled with critical issues stemming from chronic disinvestment, resulting in dire conditions such as lead in drinking water for at least seven years, ongoing teacher and staffing shortages, and unmet student needs. This neglect has disproportionately impacted 96 per cent of Black and brown students, over half of whom are English language learners and face significant economic disadvantage, homelessness, and disabilities. The disparity in resource allocation underscores a larger problem: the failure to adequately fund a public education system. East Ramapo is a dramatic and real-time example exemplifying how chronic funding gaps can lead to privatization, compromising one of our last remaining public goods — our public education system, which is there for ALL students, regardless of race, income, or immigration status.
The relentless advocacy of students, parents, and community members has been crucial in bringing these issues to light, and is closely tied to broader issues of educational and racial justice. Underfunded schools contribute to systemic problems like the school-to-prison pipeline, disproportionately affecting Black and brown students. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring educational opportunities but also for combatting wider issues of inequity and injustice that persist throughout society.
This Sunday, August 18, from 3:15pm to 4:15pm, we invite you to join us on Instagram Live (@AQE_NY) as we bring together grassroots leaders working to improve funding for public education in East Ramapo. This event will offer insights into the current challenges the community faces and provide an opportunity to discuss strategies for advocating for more equitable education funds, both in East Ramapo and elsewhere across the state. To this point, if you haven’t yet submitted your written comment for the Foundation Aid revision hearing process, please remember to do so before September 6.
Your engagement in these conversations is a vital part of the political activism that Black August inspires. Whether you’re supporting the struggle in East Ramapo or working on similar issues in your own community, together we can strive for a future where every student, particularly those impacted by racial and economic inequities, has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
In solidarity,
Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari
Co-Executive Director
Alliance for Quality Education
